Maybe I am a bit biased when it comes to Village Pizza, but that bias is born of almost 14 years of taste tests. Whenever our family gets together at home and no one is interested in cooking, Village Pizza saves the day. I think that, over the years, we have gone through the entire pizza repertoire. Our family vegetarian loves the "Vegetarian" pizza loaded with tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, onions and bell pepper. Of course, the beauty of a pizza restaurant with 20 topping selections is that you can create your own pizza. My sister-in-law’s favorite is Canadian bacon and pineapple.

No matter what topping is selected, you can be assured that the pizza will be outstanding. Why? Because Village Pizza always uses fresh ingredients. All of the sauces are made fresh each day. Toppings are fresh as well – the meat is sliced on site and the vegetables are painstakingly chopped every day. Even the mozzarella cheese is grated fresh daily.

The creation of a pizza starts in the early morning hours. That’s when owner Steve Motlagh Advertisement

[ Metalography ] sifts and mixes, creating new dough every day.

"It is fresh every day," explained Fariba, his wife, "and Steve must make the dough early because it needs to rise."

When the dough is stretched over the pan, the sauce is spread and the toppings are placed, it’s time for the pizza to be baked. Stone ovens ensure that the pizza is cooked evenly; and a side benefit is the marvelous toasted flavor. The crust is just crisp enough to hold the melted cheese/cooked toppings in place while you lift a slice. Taste a Village Pizza and you’ll want to scrape the pan clean. Don’t let any of that fresh mozzarella go to waste!

Village Pizza is located in Bonsall River Village at 5256 S. Mission Rd., Ste. 832. Call them at: (760) 414-9899. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The website is: villagepizzabonsall.com.

For those who don’t want take-out, Village Pizza offers a sparkling, colorful, and newly renovated dining area.